Law amendments promoting speed, space and contest get global trial go-ahead

A package of law trials aimed at enhancing fan and player experience will be adopted as a global trial across all competitions from next year after the World Rugby Council voted in favour of change.

With rugby continuing to increase audience share, broadcast and commercial appeal, four law trials will be adopted for all competitions that start after 1 January, 2025. They are:

• 60-second conversion limit to align with penalties and improve game pace – This will be managed by a shot clock where possible.
• 30-second setup for lineouts will match time for scrums to reduce downtime – This will be managed on-field by the match officials
• Play-on rule in uncontested lineouts when the throw is not straight.
• Scrum-half protection during scrums, rucks, and mauls

Proposals for a global law trial to call a mark inside the 22-metre line at kick off and restarts and for single stop mauls did not receive the required 75 per cent support so will not proceed.

Revised Television Match Official protocol

A revised Television Match Official (TMO) protocol was also approved as a global trial. Under the new protocol, the TMO has additional power to identify clear and obvious infringements in the final attacking passage of play before scoring (knock-on, forward pass and in touch) and in the within the final two phases specifically (offside, maul obstruction and tackle complete). The final passage of play is defined as the passage of play since the last restart (if there has been no turnover in possession), or the passage of play since the last turnover in possession has taken place. This is the protocol currently operational in the Autumn Nations Series.

Global adoption of these new law trials marks a major milestone towards World Rugby’s purpose of stimulating global growth via increasing accessibility and relevance among younger fans, ensuring rugby is placed to thrive over the next decade towards US Rugby World Cups.

During respective closed trials in the World Rugby U20 Championship and Trophy, WXV, Pacific Nations Cup, Rugby Championship and Autumn Nations Series, the laws, had a positive impact on the style, flow and entertainment value of the sport, decreasing stoppages, increasing ball in play, and promoting quick ball, while maintaining a contest. 

Twenty-minute red card replacement decision deferred

With cross-hemisphere international matches having only just begun, in line with the recommendation, the Council decided to delay consideration of the 20-minute red card trial until the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Series to enable further feedback and full data analysis to be considered.

The full text of the law trials is available here.